Learning · Idaho two-session American Mahjong (NMJL) beginner series with sets provided, plus beginner practice play

Mahjong at the Local (Boise ID)

Also called Mahjong At The Local; Learn to Play American Mahjong – 2-Part Beginner Series (Downtown Boise); Curious About Mahjong? Learn to Play in a 2-Part Beginner Series

Learning · Idaho two-session American Mahjong (NMJL) beginner series with sets provided, plus beginner practice play Checked 2026-10-09

The Local Boise, 250 E Myrtle Street, Boise, ID 83702 (classes on the building’s second floor; secure apartment community, players meet in the lobby). Phone 208-859-9155 (Peggy). Fall 2026 series: Sat Oct 17 + Oct 24, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM; Mon Oct 19 + Oct 26, 1:00–3:00 PM (Mountain).

Official URL

Category: Learning · Idaho two-session American Mahjong (NMJL) beginner series with sets provided, plus beginner practice play
Also called: Mahjong At The Local; Learn to Play American Mahjong – 2-Part Beginner Series (Downtown Boise); Curious About Mahjong? Learn to Play in a 2-Part Beginner Series
Last checked: 2026-10-09

What it is

Mahjong at the Local is a small teaching group in downtown Boise, Idaho. It runs a two-session beginner series in American Mahjong, using the official rules and card of the National Mah Jongg League. Session 1 (Learn the Basics) covers the tiles, patterns and reading the NMJL card. Session 2 (Game Flow & Strategy) covers the Charleston, game flow and the group’s “6 Strategy Rules.” No experience is needed, and sets are provided. The full series costs $80, or $50 per single session. After the series, graduates can join a twice-monthly Beginner Mahjong Play practice session and a free weekly Thursday Play social game. Co-founder and lead teacher Peggy Washburn teaches with two other instructors. Its identity for this listing is a dated, paid beginner course, not a shop.

Who it’s for

Boise and Treasure Valley adults who are new to American Mahjong and want a short, structured start, two two-hour classes, before joining regular play. The group’s method starts with tile recognition before the card and the Charleston, which suits learners who find a first game overwhelming. Idaho has no listing of any kind on disk. Existing learning listings are in other states or online: Meredith NH, Woodbury CT, Pozez JCC (VA), Gracey Tile Club PDX (OR), Beginners American Mahjong (San Diego CA), Après Mahjong (Park City UT), The Mahj Lodge (Twin Cities), etc.

Why it’s listed

The plaza needs a specific, dated beginner course with a current schedule in an unused state. Recent learning picks were Thursday’s Meredith Parks & Rec (NH), Wednesday’s Woodbury Parks & Rec (CT), Tuesday’s Pozez JCC (VA) and Monday’s Gracey Tile Club PDX (OR). This is the plaza’s first Idaho listing. Unlike the last two town rec-department courses, it is an independent teaching group with a short two-session format and a built-in path into practice and social play.

  • Official site (https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/) returned 200 on 2026-10-09 under “Mahjong At The Local | Play and learn Mahjong | 250 East Myrtle Street, Boise, ID, USA.”
    • “The core of our business is a uniquely designed, two-session beginner training program that completely removes the overwhelm of learning the game.”
    • Session 1 – Learn the Basics: handling tiles, identifying suits, matching dragons, organizing your rack, and “how to read the official NMJL card.” Session 2 – Game Flow & Strategy: “we demystify the Charleston and guide you through our core beginner strategy concepts, including the 6 Strategy Rules.”
    • Class list: Sat 10.17.26 Beginner Mahjong (Session 2 – 10.24.26), 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, “New This Fall,” “No experience needed, sets provided.” Mon 10.19.26 Beginner Mahjong (Session 2 – 10.26.26), 1:00–3:00 PM. Earlier fall series (Sept 10, Sept 14 and Oct 8) are also shown.
    • “Relaxed Beginner Mahjong Play twice a month on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM,” and a Treasure Valley Social Meetup mahjong group “every Thursday at 1:00 PM.”
    • Teachers: Peggy Washburn (co-founder and lead teacher), Clarixa Cruz Torres and Renee McGuire. Private group sessions for four people are offered.
  • Fall 2026 schedule (https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/_files/ugd/6e710e_329acc0c157c4f06b0f19086c7fef4e7.pdf, PDF) returned 200:
    • Beginner series: Thursday Sept 10 & 17; Monday Sept 14 & 21; Thursday Oct 8 & 15 (10:30 AM–12:30 PM); Saturday Oct 17 & Oct 24, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (New!); Monday Oct 19 & Oct 26, 1:00–3:00 PM. “Full details and registration are on our Eventbrite page.”
    • Beginner Mahjong Play (2× a month, 1:00 PM): Sept 9, Sept 23, Oct 7, Oct 21, Nov 4. It is “playing, not a taught lesson,” with an instructor on hand.
    • Thursday Play: “ongoing, every week,” 1:00 PM, open to all skill levels, “Register through the Treasure Valley Social Group on Meetup, free to attend.”
    • Private group sessions for 4 to 8 people; “reach out for pricing.” Footer: “Mahjong at the Local · 250 Myrtle St Boise, Idaho · Contact Peggy at 208-859-9155.”
  • Our Story (https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/ourstory) returned 200: the group began as a weekly game and moved to the second floor of The Local Boise, a secure apartment community. Everyone meets in the lobby before going upstairs together.
  • Contact (https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/contact-us) returned 200: 250 E Myrtle Street, Boise, ID 83702; email printed.
  • Eventbrite organizer page (https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mahjong-at-the-local-121388652873, linked from the official site and schedule) returned 200. It listed the Oct 8, Sat Oct 17 and Mon Oct 19 series.

Not stated consistently: the Saturday series’ second session is Oct 24 on the official site and PDF, but the Eventbrite page prints “Saturday, October 26, 2026” (Oct 26 is a Monday). Confirm with the organizer before booking. Not stated on site: class size, seats remaining (Eventbrite availability wasn’t read), the price of Beginner Mahjong Play sessions, whether NMJL cards are included or must be bought, and any beginner series after Oct 26. The Thursday social game is registered through Meetup, a third-party platform, and is not covered in detail here.

Official URL

Official site (classes): https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/

Fall 2026 schedule (PDF): https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/_files/ugd/6e710e_329acc0c157c4f06b0f19086c7fef4e7.pdf

Registration (organizer’s Eventbrite page): https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mahjong-at-the-local-121388652873

Monday Oct 19 + 26 series: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curious-about-mahjong-learn-to-play-in-a-2-part-beginner-series-101926-tickets-2000962549851

Saturday Oct 17 series: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curious-about-mahjong-learn-to-play-in-a-2-part-beginner-series-sat-1017-tickets-2000962836709

Our Story (venue): https://www.mahjong-at-the-local.com/ourstory

Location

The Local Boise, 250 E Myrtle Street, Boise, ID 83702 (downtown). Classes are on the second floor of a secure apartment building; players meet in the lobby first. Phone 208-859-9155.

Notes

  • Learning listing: a dated, paid, two-session American Mahjong (NMJL) beginner series with sets provided, run by independent teachers.
  • First Idaho listing on disk; Boise is a new metro for the plaza.
  • Follow-on options (twice-monthly Beginner Mahjong Play; free weekly Thursday Play) support the course but are not the main subject of this listing.
  • Not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League or with Mahjong Plaza.

FAQ

Q: How much is the Mahjong at the Local beginner series?
A: On 2026-10-09 Eventbrite listed $80 for the full two-session series, or $50 for either session alone. Refunds were available up to 3 days before the event.

Q: When are the next classes?
A: Saturday Oct 17 + Oct 24, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, and Monday Oct 19 + Oct 26, 1:00–3:00 PM (Mountain), per the official schedule. Eventbrite prints Oct 26 for the Saturday Session 2, so confirm the date.

Q: Which mahjong does it teach?
A: American Mahjong, using the National Mah Jongg League’s official rules and card. Session 2 covers the Charleston and the group’s “6 Strategy Rules.”

Q: Do I need my own set?
A: No. Sets are provided for class.

Q: What can I do after the course?
A: Join Beginner Mahjong Play (twice a month on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM, with an instructor on hand) and then the free weekly Thursday Play social game at 1:00 PM.

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